1 Chronicles - Study 8
1 Chronicles 28-29; Psalm 133
Study 8 of 8
In the Chronicler’s mind Solomon’s purpose, and legacy, were to be found in the construction of the temple. This can be demonstrated from the fact that as early as ch 22 he recorded David’s charge to young Solomon: “Now, my son, may the LORD be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as He said about you” (v. 11). The enthronement of Solomon is so intricately bound up with plans for constructing the temple that one can hardly speak of the former without mentioning the latter. Nonetheless, the Chronicler wished for his audience to understand that all Israel contributed to the construction of Solomon’s temple; all of his contemporaries would need to show the same diligence if they were to become a post-exilic reflection of Israel’s pre-exilic “Golden Age.”
Prior to the record of Solomon’s enthronement, the Chronicler recorded in full the ceremony which officially inaugurated temple construction:
- David charged his Solomon to begin the edification (28.1-10). Beyond simply exhorting Solomon to get to work, David’s speech here, given before the leadership of Israel, recalled God’s word through the prophet Nathan; David’s son would build the temple (cf. 2 Sam 7). Thus, Solomon was under obligation to the LORD:
“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, he will reject you forever. Realize now that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it” (vv. 9-10)
- David gave Solomon the building plans (28.11-19). While David did not administrate the construction of the temple, according to the Chronicler, he was the chief architect
- David presented Solomon with Levitical support for temple service (28.20-21). The Chronicler couched the detailed account of the Levites between chs 23 and 28 because these encouraged Solomon in the work, and in the closing words of ch 28 David reminded Solomon of their significance
While these scenes would have motivated the returned exiles to revere the second temple, the Chronicler wished for his audience to take personal ownership of their religion, too. Perhaps that is why he recorded even the leader’s contributions for building the temple. Likewise, more than once David had told Solomon of his personal contributions for construction:
- “Notice, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—3,775 tons of gold, 37,750 tons of silver, and bronze and iron that can’t be weighed because there is so much of it. I have also provided timber and stone, but you will need to add more to them” (22.14)
- “To the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God: gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting, antimony, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble. Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the holy house” (29.2-3)
David was a leader, and wanted others to follow his example; he went on to say, “Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to the LORD today?” (29.5). For David, consecration was to be expressed in contribution—and the leaders replied in kind (29.6-9; Ps 133). Yet David recognized that the ability for any to give rested in the generosity of the LORD; he confessed: “For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand” (29.14). The Chronicler’s account of David’s contributions, and confession of God’s providence, was not accidental. As his contemporaries learned of God’s sovereign pleasure in the fellowship of His people at the temple, they would be motivated to value their temple, and the LORD.
The concluding chapters of 1 Chronicles are a beautiful portrait of God’s jealousy for His people—and theirs for Him. While this is a theme of the storyline of Scripture, the locus of God’s presence has changed with the coming of Christ. Jesus claimed to represent the temple in His own body (cf. Jn 2.13-25), and the apostles referred to the corporate body of the church as the ‘new temple’ (cf. 1 Cor 3.16-17; 2 Cor 6.14-7.1; 1 Pet 2.1-10). Perhaps this should inform the application of the text to the new situation in Christ; the Chronicler set forth his account in order to give the returned exiles a ‘theological vision’ for maintaining the edification of the second temple, but since the coming of Christ the believers’ efforts at edification are to be primarily concerned with building up people, not buildings. The apostle Paul employed a building metaphor to inform the Ephesians of the new, living, edifice God was building out of both Jews and Gentiles—and their part in it. He wrote: “But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part” (Eph 4.15-16).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com